Compact high brightness LED aquarium light apparatus, using an extended point source LED array with light emitting diodes

Abstract

A compact high-brightness LED aquarium light fixture is described for use in illuminating aquarium tanks artificial light. ( 18 ) The LED aquarium light uses a densely-packed array of high-brightness light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are not individually packaged, where the array behaves similarly to a point source of light. The LED chips are distributed laterally over an area, where the LED chips have light emitting surfaces for emitting light in directions transverse to said area, wherein the dimensions of the area do not exceed 25 mm. Adjacent chips of the array are preferably separated by less than about 0.2 mm. The extended point source LED array, with its lens and associated reflector, result in a concentrated light source that attractively illuminates the contents of the aquarium, and creates a desirable shimmering effect within the aquarium. A clamp-on, flexible gooseneck mounting arrangement allows for use with aquarium tanks of various sizes.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A compact LED aquarium light apparatus, comprising:
 at least one array of multiple LED chips without individual packaging, wherein the LED chips are distributed laterally over an area, said LED chips having light emitting surfaces for emitting light in directions transverse to said area, wherein the dimensions of the area do not exceed 25 mm; 
 an optical lens adjacent to the light emitting surfaces of the LED chips in said at least one array, wherein light originating from the LED chips of the at least one array is collected and directed by said lens towards an aquarium to illuminate the aquarium and wherein spectrum of light directed by the lens and reaching the aquarium has a higher proportion in intensity in the blue region of the visible spectrum than light emitted by a black body radiator at 6500° Kelvin, simulates filtering effect of water on natural sun light, and also promotes and enhances the growth of various forms of marine life in the aquarium; and 
 a reflector surrounding said at least one array reflecting light emitted by the LED chips of the at least one array towards the aquarium. 
 
     
     
       2. The light apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light emitted by the multiple LED chips as a whole has a higher proportion in intensity in at least a portion of a spectrum of 380-470 nm than light emitted by a black body radiator at 6500° Kelvin. 
     
     
       3. The light apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said portion includes at least 410 to 460 nm. 
     
     
       4. The light apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said proportion is at least 20% greater than a corresponding proportion for light emitted by a black body radiator at 6500° Kelvin. 
     
     
       5. The light apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said proportion is at least 50% greater than a corresponding proportion for light emitted by a black body radiator at 6500° Kelvin. 
     
     
       6. The light apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said light emitted by the at least one array includes light in the 360-410 nm wavelength range. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein adjacent chips of said a least one array of multiple LED chips are separated by less than about 0.2 mm. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , said optical lens has a principal plane, wherein dimensions of said optical lens along said principal plane are less than about 30 mm. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , said at least one array comprising LED chips that emit light of at least two different wavelengths or wavelength ranges from different portions of said area, wherein the light emitted at each of the at least two different wavelengths from the at least one array is such that intensities of illumination of different objects in the aquarium at the at least two different wavelengths do not differ by more than 10%, when the different objects being illuminated by the at least one array are at a distance of less than about 3 feet from the at least one array. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the light emitted is such that the intensities of illumination of different objects in the aquarium at the at least two different wavelengths or wavelength ranges from the at least one array do not differ by more than 10% at distances of less than one foot from the different objects. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , said at least one array comprising separate groups of the LED chips, said apparatus further comprising a plurality of drivers, each of said drivers driving one of said separate groups of the LED chips of the at least one array, to enable light of different intensities to be emitted by the different groups of the LED chips. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein at least two of said groups of the LED chips emit light of different wavelengths or wavelength ranges, so that said drivers control the intensities and spectral range of light emitted by said apparatus. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising user controls that each enables users to control a corresponding one of said drivers, so that users are enabled to control individually intensities to be emitted by the different groups of the LED chips, and to control the intensities and spectral range of light emitted by said apparatus. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said groups of the LED chips emit blue light, UV light, wavelengths of visible light other than blue light, or broad-spectrum white light of different color temperatures. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a controller for controlling the plurality of drivers to enable light of one intensity and spectral content to be emitted according to one state of a plurality of different pre-defined user-selectable light output states. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a selector switch that enables a user to select a desired state from said plurality of pre-defined user-selectable light output states. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said selector switch is operable by wireless means. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 15 , said plurality of pre-defined user-selectable light output states including states of light output optimized for specific desired effects related to aquarium viewing, marine life growth, or prevention of specific undesirable marine life effects. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18 , said specific desired effects including the creation of a shimmering effect within the aquarium, and on the floor of the aquarium tank. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 18 , said specific desired effects including maximum growth of marine plants, algae, and coral. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 18 , said specific desired effects including minimal marine life growth while maintaining marine life health. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a USB interface through which pre-defined user-selectable light output states are loaded into said controller. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a real time clock wherein said controller is programmable to select from said plurality of pre-defined user-selectable light output states based on time of day, date, lunar cycle, or growing cycles of marine life, based on time of said real time clock. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat sink with vapor chamber, removing heat from all of the multiple LED chips. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more drivers supplying current or current pulses to the LED chips. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a supporting structure comprising a metal core board (MCB) substrate; said at least one array of LED chips bonded to said supporting structure. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a clamp-on, flexible gooseneck mount for supporting on an aquarium wall, one array or multiple arrays, the optical lens, and reflector, that enables the light from the one or more of said arrays above the aquarium. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said gooseneck mount includes clamps for clamping an upper edge of the aquarium wall so that the one array or multiple arrays, the optical lens and the reflector are located above the aquarium. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a bar mount that clamps onto an aquarium tank, supporting one array or multiple arrays, the optical lens, and reflector, that enables the supply of light from above the aquarium. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible stand mount for supporting the at least one array, the optical lens, and reflector, enabling the supply of light toward the aquarium from a lateral direction. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a suction cup mount for supporting onto an aquarium wall the at least one array, the optical lens, and reflector, enabling the supply of light toward the aquarium. 
     
     
       32. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a rigid or flexible light guide element, which couples light from the apparatus into the water of the aquarium. 
     
     
       33. The apparatus of  claim 32 , said light guide element comprising bundled fiber or rod comprising a glass or polymer material. 
     
     
       34. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more phosphors on at least some of the LEDs in the array, so that the phosphors and said at least some of the LEDs in the array emit white light. 
     
     
       35. The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising fluorescent phosphor associated with LEDs in a first one of the at least two of said groups of the LED chips emitting blue light, said fluorescent phosphor and the first one group of the LED emit white light, and a second one of the at least two of said groups of the LED chips emit blue light of different wavelengths.